A little less explosive than round one, but we still witnessed some worthy matches as well as some entertaining contests. We pick our three winners and three losers from the this weekendโs action.
Winner: Expansion Sides
Iโll start off by praising both of the leagueโs newest teams, the Giants and the Suns, who both had very good wins on the weekend against two of the most respected sides in the comp.
Gold Coast backed up its opening win against Essendon with a fantastic performance against last yearโs Preliminary finalists, Fremantle. Tom Lynch has had a brilliant start to the season with five goals on the weekend, following four the previous week. His 199cm frame proving a challenge for the opposition.
Aaron Hall continued his good form with 32 possessions on Saturday night and what made the win even more impressive, was that it came in Freoโs backyard, a supposed fortress for travelling teams.
GWS also had a shock win, bringing a well fancied Cats side straight back down to earth, running them off the park in the process.
Following a disappointing loss to Melbourne in round one, the Giants responded brilliantly and with a team that appears to be a year or two away from finals, may shock a few in the coming months.
Loser: St Kilda
In what was a massive occasion with Nick Riewoldt playing his 300th game, ended in bitter disappointment with a resounding defeat to the Bulldogs. The fact that the Saints only manage to muster five goals in such a big game for their leader is hugely substandard, given their promising form against Port Adelaide in round one.
There is a massive contrast between these two sides now, with the Dogs streets ahead of where the Saints are at. Given the fact that these two played some memorable finals not so long ago, itโs a shame to see just how far apart they are.
Winner: Collingwood
A loser last week and a winner this week, what a difference a week in football makes. The Pies were smashed to oblivion by the Swans in round one, but the way they responded against the Tigers on Friday night was great to see from a neutral point of view.
A scrappy game yes, but to pick up the four points against a strong Tigers side a week after getting pumped, shows brilliant resilience. Collingwood will be grateful to get their season on the way and with a promising draw for the next month, itโs a great chance to gather some momentum before travelling to Perth to face the Eagles in round six.
Loser: Fremantle
It hasnโt been a great start for Ross Lyonโs men and their anguish continues on as the stare down at a 0-2 record. Many expected the Dockers to bounce back against the Suns, but defeat on their home patch raises alarm bells if they werenโt ringing all ready.
I predicted their downfall, but I wasnโt ballsy enough to put it in my pre-season predictions. Weโve seen it all before with Ross Lyon though. It reminds me of St Kilda in 2011 fresh after playing in three consecutive grand finals. They finished sixth and bundled out to Sydney in the first week of finals without much of a noise.
Fremantle need to start scoring and registering 100 points against the Suns was a step in the right direction, all be it, the least expected from last yearโs minor premiers. I donโt see their form getting any better with a derby against an Eagles side that will be pretty fired up after losing to Hawthorn in Melbourne once again.
Winner: North Melbourne
While the Dogs, Sydney and Gold Coast are all being talked about at the moment, North are going about their business pretty quietly after recording wins against Adelaide in round one and Brisbane at the Gabba over the weekend, a place that is historically difficult for the Roos.
Like I said in my preview of the club, itโs now or never for North and they must make an impact in 2016. By getting a decent start for the first time in years, Brad Scottโs men are on the right track.
Loser: The Fallout from Friday Night
Political statements have no place in our great game, so it was disappointing to see a small minority of people display a racist banner during Fridayโs night game.
It has once again raised security concerns as to how these people got the banner into the ground in the first place and once again, a non-football issue overshadowed a great weekend of football.
